Group to Push Idaho Liquor Vote, Grocers Back Off

A grocery lobbying organization won’t advance a liquor privatization ballot measure in 2012, but a second group announced it will seek to get an initiative before voters next November.

The Idaho Federation of Reagan Republicans submitted a citizen’s initiative to privatize liquor sales in Idaho and eliminate the state Liquor Division.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Grocery Association said it would hold off until at least the 2013 Legislature, in hopes of convincing lawmakers to back a bill to privatize liquor sales in Idaho. Sales are now conducted through state-run or contract stores. The group decided it didn’t have enough time to get a ballot measure ready before an April 30 deadline, and also didn’t want to bypass lawmakers eager to weigh in.

Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.